Seven years ago, I attended the grand re-opening of the newly renovated Arena Stage with my dear friend Shirley Serotsky. We had such fun! Near the end of our visit, we made our way to the Kogod Cradle. I remember walking down the long hallway into the theatre and being immediately struck by its beauty and character. It is a theatre that demands to be taken in fully. As I sat down in the audience, I whispered a short prayer: “Dear Lord and all the muses, please let me have a play presented here one day.”

At last week’s first rehearsal of Intelligence, I stood on the stage of the Kogod Cradle and shared this sweet memory. I could hardly believe I was living this dream come true. At one point, during the design presentation, I leaned over to artistic director Molly Smith and whispered, “They’re talking about my play!” She beamed with such pride and said, “Yes, they are. You’ve worked hard for it.”

​Quite simply, it was thrilling to hear the designers speak about the world of the play. While the lights, projections, props, and sound were still coming together, Misha Kachman shared the stunning model of the set and Ivania Stack displayed her gorgeous costumes. While the set transforms from a living room to a boutique to a coffee shop to a detention center to a war-torn city, the costumes teach us about each of the character’s culture, class, career, and personality.We’re nearing the end of week two and we have a stumble through tomorrow morning. Yes, already! I’m going to skype in and plan to share more of our journey along the way. For now, please enjoy these costume and set renderings for the play.

Costume Designs by Ivania Stack

Set Renderings by Misha Kachman

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I'm a playwright, dramaturg, and teaching artist. It is here where you'll find my queries and musings on life, theater and the world. My posts advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity in the American Theatre and updates on my own work. Please enjoy!